Page 4 of Wicked Magik

Not when I wanted out.

“Right, anyway. Vesper will have his body completed by tomorrow, ready for the viewing and other festivities.”

One man stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Without a hitch.” He mumbled in a thick Italian accent and held out his hand for Leo.

Leo smirked and reached for his hand to shake it. They both firmly clasped them together and tightened it.

“Of course. Without a hitch.” Leo promised.

The two men and Alex went back to the elevator. Unfortunately, Leo stayed behind and once the door closed I was alone.

I pursed my lips together and waited for the inevitable. An order, a threat but it didn’t come.

“You’ve worked here a long time. You were practically raised here, huh, Vesper?”

I blinked several times. “Yes?”

Raised here was an understatement. I was homeschooled. I tried to go to school but was made fun of because people found out I lived at a funeral home, in the basement with all the bodies. The white hair, purple eyes, and the tanned skinned made it too easy to stand out. I was dubbed… weird. Mom with her tender heart and never wanting to see me cry decided to homeschool me then and apologized for her… different profession.

I didn’t mind it. I found her work interesting and a way to help the living cope and move on from spirits passing through.

“You are loyal to the family, and I find that endearing.” Leo approached me and put his hands in his pockets. “You are always kind and tender to the people who come in and out of this home and help them see their loved ones for who they are before they are put to rest.”

If I hadn’t heard this man’s words through the grates of this old home, I would have found his words thoughtful.

But I knew better.

“What is it you want, Mr. Marchant?” My words weren’t cold, but they weren’t friendly either. Ever since my mother's death, I couldn’t bear to get close to anyone, not with her death holding so many loose ends.

Leo chuckled and rubbed his goatee. “I’m a single man, Vesper and you are a rare sight. I want someone as passionate about this business as me. To make families happy.”

You mean, take their money.

I lifted my head to pretend I understood.

“Are you speaking of a business transaction?” I lifted a brow.

Leo chuckled loudly and then rubbed his hand behind his neck. “Vesper, you have more fire than I realized. But no, not necessarily. I would want you to be my wife. That would mean wifely duties also. I would provide husbandly duties as well. You would be taken care of, get out of this basement. You would have much more money to spend, you would be essentially part of the business and the family.”

Gross.

His father must have told him I wanted to leave. This would essentially make me stay, permanently.

The idea of marrying such a man made me sick to my stomach. I’ve lived in silence in these hallways, in the basement. I know how he acts in front of his father versus when he’s not there. He was a complete covert narcissist, and I was not going to fall for it.

He was hoping that with my lack of social skills, or lack of dating, I would jump at the chance to marry him. That he was a catch. He was a rich bachelor, one any woman would want to marry and keep but I was no such woman.

He probably thought I was a virgin too.

I smirked internally.

“Thank you Mr. Marchant, for the offer, but–” I began.

Leo stepped forward and pushed a tendril of hair that had fallen in front of my face and put it behind my ear. I stood my ground and did not show fear.

“Shh, you don’t need to answer right now. Just something to think about. We can go on dates, really get to know one another. I wouldn’t make you go into this blind. I know we don’t know each other very well.” Leo winked at me and I internally shuttered. “Good night, Vesper. Thank you for taking on this high profile intake for us.”

Leo didn’t take the elevator, instead going up the stairs so I could hear his expensive shoes click up the steps.